Zelenskiy Unveils 'Victory Plan' That Includes NATO Invite

KYIV -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has outlined a set of measures that he says would turn the tide of the war in Kyiv's favor and possibly end the conflict with Russia no later than next year, even as his embattled country struggles to stave off a slow but relentless advance by Russian forces and the decimation of energy infrastructure ahead of the coming winter.

In his speech to parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, on October 16, Zelenskiy called for the "lifting by partners of restrictions on the use of long-range weapons on the entire territory of Ukraine occupied by Russia and on Russian territory and on enemy military infrastructure" and help in "equipping our reserve brigades."

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His five-point "victory plan," in which he ruled out ceding Ukrainian territory, also called for an unconditional invitation for Kyiv to join the NATO military alliance and the deployment of a strategic nonnuclear deterrent package in Ukraine.

Mykhaylo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Zelenskiy, told RFE/RL that Russia had built its "entire propaganda campaign" on Ukraine not joining NATO and used that point to justify attacks or provocations against Ukraine.

"The president (Zelenskiy) says let's send a clear political signal to Russia that it can no longer make an ultimatum...saying this is my region of influence and Ukraine cannot be a member of NATO," Podolyak told RFE/RL in Brussels.

Another point of the victory plan addresses Ukraine's competence after the war, which he said would have "great experience" and would be able to replace certain contingents -- primarily American -- that are in Europe now.

"Our partners are investing in security today. They should understand that there is already a specific competence of Ukraine, which will be realized later in this form," he said.

In his speech to parliament, the Ukrainian leader said he would present the plan on October 17 at a European Union summit in Brussel, adding that the plan had been discussed with leaders from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Germany.

European Council President Charles Michel said on X that he had invited Zelenskiy to the European Council summit on October 17 "to take stock of the latest developments of Russia’s war against Ukraine and present his victory plan."

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told RFE/RL in Brussels on October 16 that he wanted to hear from Zelenskiy directly before commenting on the plan, but said Ukraine must receive better and stronger security guarantees because the security of Ukraine is Europe's security.

"People in Europe have to understand, I think, that we have been hesitating too much in the past in order to provide the required military capabilities to Ukraine," Borrell said. "And now we don't have to hesitate.... The only way to making [Russian President Vladimir] Putin...go to a negotiation table is to have victory on the battlefield. Otherwise, it would not happen."

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on October 16 that the victory plan was a "strong signal" from Zelenskiy but he said he could not say that he supported it.

"That would be a bit difficult because there are many issues that we have to understand better," he said.

In addition to the EU Council summit, Zelenskiy will attend a NATO defense ministers meeting on October 17, also in Brussels, according to NATO's revised agenda.

Rutte said that there was "no doubt" the victory plan would be discussed during that meeting. Responding to Zelenskiy's call for an unconditional invitation to join NATO, Rutte said Ukraine was closer than ever to joining the alliance and that it will happen when the time is right.

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The Kremlin immediately dismissed Zelenskiy's plan, calling it a "diktat" from the United States.

"The only peace plan there can be is for the Kyiv regime to realize the futility of the policy it is pursuing and understand the need to sober up," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

The Foreign Ministry said the plan meant "trouble for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people." Zelenskiy "is pushing NATO members toward a direct conflict with our country," spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

Zelenskiy has said he expects a response to the plan before the November 5 presidential election in the United States -- Ukraine's main ally and provider of financial and military help -- where a victory by Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump could cast doubt about Washington's continued support for Kyiv.

Zelenskiy's presentation came as Russia continued to keep up the pressure on Ukraine's cities and infrastructure while Russian forces are advancing in the east toward the crucial logistics hub of Pokrovsk.

LISTEN: Ruth Deyermond, senior lecturer in the Department of War Studies at King's College London, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the situation on the battlefield and the latest wave of talk about talks.

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On October 16, Russia attacked Ukraine with 136 drones and two guided missiles. Most of them were neutralized by Ukraine's air defenses, the air force reported on Telegram.

A total of 51 drones were shot down over the Sumy, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Ternopil, Kherson, Kharkiv, Zhytomyr, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolayiv, Kyiv, Poltava, Chernihiv, and Chernivtsiy regions, the air force said, adding that another 60 Russian drones were neutralized as a result of electronic-warfare measures.

In the western region of Ternopil, some 50 firefighters worked to extinguish a large fire caused by a falling drone, regional Governor Vyacheslav Nehoda wrote on Telegram, saying there had been no injuries.

Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said its air defenses had downed three Ukrainian drones -- two over the Belgorod and one over the Voronezh region.